The Top-Rated Slow Cookers That Will Make Dinner a Breeze

When you want to cook low and slow, these are the top-tested picks from the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab.

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How We Tested

How We Tested

The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab evaluated the latest slow cookers by making beef stew, chicken soup and roast beef to determine if the machines met safe temperatures and produced a tasty meal. We evaluated how helpful each slow cooker's manual was, how easy the control panel was to read, the types of controls and their ease of use — plus other added features like a signal light and any automatic keep-warm settings. Beyond cooking, we checked out how comfortable each machine's handles and lid were to use and carry, overall versatility, surface temperature and, of course, how well it cleaned.

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All-Clad 7-Quart Gourmet Slow Cooker #SD900DDI

All-Clad 7-Quart Gourmet Slow Cooker #SD900DDI

The top-tested 7-quart All-Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker has a stainless steel exterior and removable nonstick aluminum insert that's pretty enough to go from slow cooker to table. It's super versatile: The digital controls offer settings for slow cooking on low, high/low, and high, plus you can brown, steam and make rice in this model. It made a rich and tender beef stew and cooked chicken soup and pot roast to safe internal temperatures in our testing. The five-hour, automatic keep-warm setting will hold your dish at the ideal serving temperature when cooking's complete.

How We Tested

The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab evaluated the latest slow cookers by making beef stew, chicken soup and roast beef to determine if the machines met safe temperatures and produced a tasty meal. We evaluated how helpful each slow cooker's manual was, how easy the control panel was to read, the types of controls and their ease of use — plus other added features like a signal light and any automatic keep-warm settings. Beyond cooking, we checked out how comfortable each machine's handles and lid were to use and carry, overall versatility, surface temperature and, of course, how well it cleaned.

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All-Clad 7-Quart Gourmet Slow Cooker #SD900DDI

The top-tested 7-quart All-Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker has a stainless steel exterior and removable nonstick aluminum insert that's pretty enough to go from slow cooker to table. It's super versatile: The digital controls offer settings for slow cooking on low, high/low, and high, plus you can brown, steam and make rice in this model. It made a rich and tender beef stew and cooked chicken soup and pot roast to safe internal temperatures in our testing. The five-hour, automatic keep-warm setting will hold your dish at the ideal serving temperature when cooking's complete.

All-Clad

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Black + Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker #SCD4007

Add ingredients to the Black + Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker in the morning and when you come home from work, you'll have a delicious pot of hearty homemade soup or stew that's ready to serve. And don't worry if you get stuck in the office longer than expected, as it will automatically switch to keep-warm mode. In our testing, this model came up to cooking temperature quickly but then boiled our chicken broth, producing overcooked meat. Still, thanks to a locking lid and large side handles, it's super easy to take with you on the go — and because the exterior is a chalkboard surface, you can label it with your dish at your next potluck dinner or tailgate.

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All-Clad 6.5 Quart Electric Slow Cooker #SD700450

This stainless steel champ from All-Clad has electronic controls that can be programmed to cook on either high for two to eight hours or low for four to 20 hours. In our tests, it delivered a delicious fork-tender beef stew, with none of the dryness or stringiness that comes from overcooking. After the program is completed, it automatically switches to keep warm for up to six hours or until you turn it off.

All-Clad

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Black + Decker WiFi Enabled 6-Quart Slow Cooker #SCW3000S

Running behind on your to-do list or have a last-minute change in plans? With the Black + Decker WiFi Enabled 6-Quart Slow Cooker, you don't have to worry about overcooking your dinner – simply log into the compatible app from your smartphone and you'll be able to switch the slow cooker into keep warm mode (or switch from Low to High or vice versa) remotely. The app also allows you to search for recipes and share your dish on social media. Naturally, it also works as a fully-functional slow cooker without Wi-Fi. In our testing, this model came up to cooking temperature quickly but then boiled our chicken broth, producing overcooked meat.

Black + Decker

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Cuisinart Programmable Slow Cooker #PSC-650

This stainless steel Cuisinart Programmable Slow Cooker has a 6.5-quart stoneware insert and electronic controls can be programmed to cook for up to 24 hours on the high, low or warm settings. It automatically switches to the warm setting after cooking and remains on warm for eight hours or until turned off or reprogrammed. While our beef and vegetable stew was tender and flavorful, the meat was a tad stringy. Still, it includes a special lower-than-low "simmer" setting, which is great for hearty cuts of meat like brisket that need to cook all day. The ceramic insert can be popped in the dishwasher for cleaning.

Cuisinart

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Hamilton Beach Professional Sous Vide and 6QT Slow Cooker #33970

This 6-quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker stands out because it also functions as a sous vide machine, meaning it's able to hold a water bath at a precise controlled temperature to cook food perfectly evenly from edge to edge to your desired level of doneness. When slow cooking, it quickly brought a whole chicken and pot roast up to a safe internal temperature and was one of the only products we tested that didn't boil our chicken broth. The nonstick cooking insert goes in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

Consider the Single Hand Cook & Carry from Crock-Pot if you're in search of a slow cooker that you can easily bring with you to a tailgate or holiday party. The lid features four secure locks and a large handle, making it ideal for taking on the go. In our testing, it turned out top-notch fork-tender beef stew, but it overcooked our chicken soup. Still, it holds up to six quarts, automatically switches to keep warm and the removable stoneware cooking insert is both dishwasher and oven safe.